Three Macedonian Lawmakers Held In Parliament Attack Investigation

The six lawmakers are among dozens under investigation in connection with an April 27 riot in which protesters stormed into Macedonia's parliament building.

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Three Macedonian Lawmakers Held In Parliament Attack Investigation

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A Macedonian court has ordered that three opposition lawmakers be held in custody for a month pending an investigation into their alleged involvement in violence at the parliament building earlier this year.

The Criminal Court in the capital, Skopje, on December 5 placed three other members of parliament suspected in the case under house arrest.

The six lawmakers -- all from the main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party -- are among 36 people under investigation for suspected "terrorist endangerment of the constitutional order and security" in connection with the April 27 riot in which protesters stormed into the parliament building.

More than 100 people were injured in the violence, including lawmakers and police officers.

Parliament stripped the six deputies of their immunity from prosecution in a session last week that was boycotted by the conservative VMRO-DPMNE. The party called the session a "political farce."

The VMRO-DPMNE governed for more than a decade until the current government led by the Social Democratic Union (SDSM) took over earlier this year.

In an interview published on December 1, VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski said that he plans to step down "soon."

Gruevski faces criminal investigations involving allegations of corruption and a wiretapping scandal dating back to his time as the country's prime minister.

His comments came just over a month after the SDSM won a sweeping victory over the VMRO-DPMNE in two rounds of local elections.

RFE/RL's Balkan Service promotes the values of democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression in a region where genuine media freedom remains elusive and where many media outlets remain divided along ethnic lines.